Adams, Johnston Trade Attacks, Laughs

September 23, 1988|By JOSEPH SCHWERDT, Staff Writer

WEST PALM BEACH -- Congressional candidates Ken Adams and Harry Johnston debated each other with some chummy but heavy-handed backslapping on Thursday, slamming each others` political records while laughing it up with some biting political humor.

Appearing before a packed house at a Forum Club luncheon, the two finalists in the 14th Congressional District race blasted each other on issues ranging from defense to personal accomplishments. But their sparring was tempered with humor and was considerably less vicious than some previous post-primary clashes.

Not that they were completely cordial.

Said Republican Adams of Johnston: ``He never saw a tax that he didn`t fall in love with.``

Said Democrat Johnston of Adams: ``I shan`t mention that the county budget has tripled since he`s been on the board, but you dragged it out of me.``

The two men are vying to replace Dan Mica in the U.S. House of Representatives in the district that covers portions of northern Broward and southern Palm Beach counties.

The issue of the day was Adams` voting record; not his voting record on issues while he was a Palm Beach County commissioner, but his apparent failure to vote in several elections. Johnston said Adams didn`t even vote in the March presidential primary election.

``We find it ironic that he brought in a brochure with George Bush on it, because he did not vote for George Bush, because he did not vote in the presidential primary,`` Johnston said.

Adams said he didn`t vote before he entered politics because he was busy traveling the world while in the military. But he said he voted when he could and regrets not voting more.

Adams countered by describing Johnston as ``extremely liberal.`` He said Johnston has a record as a free-spending tax lover, and who discourages industrial and commercial development.

``If you liked Jimmy Carter, you`re going to love Harry Johnston,`` Adams said. ``Because his policies are exactly the ones that back in the `70s gave us 21 percent interest rates, runaway inflation, high taxes and long unemployment lines.``

To which Johnston responded:

``If you didn`t like Jimmy Carter you should have voted for his opponent. But you didn`t. You didn`t vote for Reagan, you didn`t vote for Nixon and didn`t vote for anybody in the last 20 years. And it`s my turn to take a cheap shot.``

The campaign for Congress got off to a rocky start the day after the Sept. 6 primary when Adams lashed out at Johnston for a radio advertisement that accused Adams of lying about his qualifications. Johnston`s camp denied running the ad.

The two candidates then pounded each other at a Boca Raton debate two days after the primary. Each accused the other of striking below the belt.

On Thursday, Johnston stressed his involvement in civic organizations, including his position as president-elect of the Forum Club, ``hoping to be able to resign in November.``

Johnston also said simple politics dictate that he should be elected to work with others of the majority party in the House.

``The mathematics of it is, it is going to be a Democratic Congress,`` Johnston said. ``The Republicans can see that there is no way they can take over the Congress this year or in 1990. And you need access to Congress.``

Adams touted his accomplishments while on the County Commission, including bringing the tricounty rail and a proposed bullet train station to West Palm Beach and bolstering the county`s road-construction program.